Okay, I'm not sure why I started a new fic when I'm not even HALFWAY finished with "By Your Side," (which I TOTALLY plan on updating soon) but I just got this idea in my head and I couldn't shake it! I decided that I would give it a shot and post it. I don't usually care for most stories that stray so far from canon because Dave and Kurt's relationship and how it evolves in canon is a huge part of what makes the ship for me, but, but I figured I would go for it anyway!

It is basically an AU starting near the end of the episode "Acafellas" and the beginning of "Preggers" all the way back in Season 1, though there will be a few canon elements involved xD

Enjoy!

By some incredible miracle, Kurt had managed to go the entire day without being shoved into a locker or tossed into a dumpster. As he strolled on down to his locker, books in hand, his spirits automatically deflated when he saw none other than the Mohawk bearing Noah Puckerman, along with about three other football players, striding toward him. Kurt clenched his books tight and braced himself for impact, but the force of the expected shove still knocked him down to the floor.

As Kurt sat, his back against the lockers, his French notes scattered all across the hallway, he turned his face to Puckerman who merely glanced back at him and shrugged.

"Oops. Sorry, kid, didn't see you" he said, fist bumping his buddies as they sauntered off together. Kurt closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Hey, what the fuck is your problem, Puck? Leave the kid alone!" said a voice that Kurt hadn't recognized from the usual terrorizing.

It was deep and firm and forceful, so it couldn't have been anyone from Glee (the closest thing to that was… well, Finn. And this boy sounded nothing like Finn). Kurt looked up and saw a football player that he barely recognized. He had definitely seen this boy around school, but since he wasn't constantly bullied and teased by him every day, his face wasn't etched into Kurt's memory like Puckerman and the others. "Puck," as the football player was called, turned back around in Kurt's direction, his eyes locked on Kurt's defender.

"Come on, Karofsky, you know damn well I just couldn't help it. The dude's like the easiest target in this school. It's nothing new; he knows it. See ya at practice, buddy," he responded, as if that perfectly explained everything. The other football player sighed and knelt down to where he was at eye level with Kurt.

"You alright?" he asked with a concerned grin. Kurt nodded a bit too quickly, and he was positively sure that he was flushing right now.

"I'm fine… thank you," Kurt said softly. The boy nodded and proceeded to help Kurt pick up his notes and books.

"There's no excuse for his behavior. Puck's a good dude at heart and everything, but he can kind of be a real dick sometimes."

"So I've learned," Kurt scoffed. After the athlete handed him his last paper, he extended his arm out to Kurt.

"I'm David."

"Kurt," the Glee Clubber replied slowly, taking the larger hand and shaking it. Kurt figured the hand would've been dry and cold or clammy and uncomfortable like the rest of the jocks, but… it was actually warm and smooth to the touch. The warm, innocent smile that David greeted him with made Kurt melt on the inside, though, on the surface, he remained collected. Kurt didn't even realize that he was staring at David until the football player eyed him peculiarly. Kurt broke away from the grip and stood to his feet, his books back in his arms.

"Thanks, again." David shrugged and smirked.

"Not a problem. You stay out of trouble, alright? I'll see you around. Nice meeting you, Kurt."

"Likewise," muttered the singer. David grinned at him and strolled off after his teammates. When he was out of sight, Kurt couldn't help but giggle quietly to himself… what the hell just happened?

That Saturday afternoon was the day that the Glee Club held its first carwash fundraiser so that they could hire Dakota Stanley as a choreographer. Kurt really had no reason to wear his everyday clothes to a carwash, but hey at least he looked stylish while he was doing it. And while the thought of Finn out in the heat, sweat trickling down his tall, muscular body normally would've secretly turned Kurt on, for some reason, he couldn't stop thinking about that David guy. The hazel eyes, the smile… the way that he defended him. It was strange that Kurt had bounced from one object of obsession to another based on one meeting. But then again, he had done the same thing with Finn. And this guy actually attempted to have a conversation with him.

As he and Mercedes proceeded to dry off his Navigator, the girl abruptly stopped and placed both her hands on the hood under the towel, her eyes fixed on Kurt.

"Is something wrong, Mercedes?" Kurt asked, hardly even looking in her direction.

"Okay, Kurt. This is like, what, the third time that we've gone out? Why don't we just… you know. Make it official?" Kurt glanced up and looked his friend in the eye.

"Make… what official?"

"You know… that we're dating," she grinned. Oh God. She was blushing. She was actually serious. Sure the two of them had been spending a lot of time together recently and he had been friendlier to her than others, but… she actually thought that they were seeing each other?

He actually kind of felt bad. Truth be told, Kurt thought that Mercedes was an amazing person and any guy would be lucky to date her. Any guy that was interested in girls would be very lucky to have her. But how the hell was he supposed to break that to her? He couldn't. All he could do was stand there silently like an idiot.

"It's just that… I dunno, I really like you Kurt. And we've been hanging out so much, I just thought…"

"I like you too," Kurt interjected hurriedly. She beamed. God, Kurt felt horrible now. All he could feel was the wrenching sensation in his gut after having told that lie. Well, it wasn't a complete lie. He did like Mercedes as a friend. But she really didn't need to know that right now.

"So… does that mean that we're… you know… boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"Yeah… I guess that's exactly what it means." Crap.

"Well there's gonna be a little get-together at Finn's house later tonight; just us Glee kids… would you… maybe wanna go?"

Finn. Absolutely fan-fucking-tastic. His brand new girlfriend was inviting him to the house of one of the most popular guys in school for an entire evening. An evening spent with everyone in the only group of people that he actually hung out with… at an outing where everyone could see them together. He couldn't pass that up. If they found out the truth… he really wouldn't have anything left. But at the same time, he knew in his heart that it was wrong to lead her on like this. Why was he doing this to her? And better yet, why was he doing this to himself?

"Sure… that sounds fun."

Her gleeful smile didn't do much to make him feel better. He simply forced one back at her, but the second her head ducked under the other side of the car, it disappeared from his face. Maybe he was looking at this the wrong way. Maybe now… maybe now he could actually try to be normal for once.

Figures the only kids at Finn's that night were in Glee. It would be social suicide on Finn's part to invite anybody else. While Finn and Artie attempted to destroy each other on COD, Tina, Rachel, Kurt, and Mercedes were off on the other side of the room engaged in conversation about Mercedes and Kurt's newfound love. Mercedes did most of the talking though. Kurt just nodded and replied with single syllabic words when it was his time to speak.

"Hey, Kurt!" Finn called from across the room. Kurt turned towards the other two boys and they gestured for him to come over to their side.

"Excuse me," Kurt said, unlocking his arm from Mercedes'. She almost immediately went back to gossiping with Rachel and Tina while he strolled over to the couch where Finn and Artie resided.

"Yes?" he asked hesitantly, having never really been invited over by Finn to actually talk.

"So apparently, you're with Mercedes now?" Artie asked, obviously wanting to get straight to the point.

"Yes," Kurt muttered.

"So… have you two… ya know… done it yet?" Finn asked quietly. Kurt gasped.

"We just started… going out… this afternoon. And even if we had, that would be none of your business."

"I'm just saying… when Quinn agreed to be my girlfriend, I had kissed her in less than a minute. You two have been over here all evening and you've barely touched her."

Kurt was feeling extremely uncomfortable now. He hadn't thought that being Mercedes' boyfriend would involve… doing stuff with her. He figured it would just be hand-holding, hanging out, pretty much the stuff that they did already. But there was one thing that he hadn't even thought about: when it comes to girls, straight male teenagers are pigs and they very are open about it.

"Well, what do you think I should do?" he asked. Finn and Artie exchanged glances and turned back to Kurt.

"Well for one… you should probably kiss her. Otherwise, she'll think you aren't interested," Artie explained.

"Here's what you can do… there's an empty room across the hall. Take her in there with you and… You know… do what couples do. Don't try to have sex with her or anything, especially not in my house. But… get alone with her. Show her how interested you are," Finn whispered. Kurt swallowed hard.

"I… really don't know, Finn. I mean this is your house…"

"I am giving you permission. Dude… do you have any idea what this will do to your rep? What it'll do to all of our reps? If you can prove that you can get a girl, maybe people will finally stop tossing you in dumpsters. Maybe people will actually stop thinking that Glee club is gay."

"Yeah… I guess you're right," Kurt responded. The way that Finn had phrased it, though Kurt assumed that he meant well, still kind of hurt his feelings. And it was true; Kurt knew that he was… eccentric. And his entire life, he felt that it was what made him unique. But in actuality, it was the thing that held him back and kept him from getting ahead. And since just being in Glee Club already put them on the brink of social desolation, they all needed to try their hardest to be accepted. Especially Kurt.

"Mercedes," Kurt called. The named girl excused herself from her circle and walked over to Kurt, Finn, and Artie, a smile on her face.

"What's up, boo?"

Kurt bit his lip, attempting to hide the fear and uneasiness in his expression.

"I was thinking," he rose to his feet and took Mercedes' hand, "you and I should go somewhere more quiet… where we can be… alone."

"Are you… sure, Kurt? I mean, if that's what you want," Mercedes said, slowly. Kurt glanced back at Finn and Artie, who inconspicuously gave him an approving thumbs up.

"Yes… I'm sure."

"Well, let's go then," Mercedes beamed, guiding Kurt by the hand out of the room. What the hell was he getting himself into?

Like I said, this project was just a thought that I had, so if you guys liked it and would like to see more, please let me know by leaving a review! If not, I'll just stick with BYS and focus on that :P